Bernardo Silva highlights key challenge for Real Madrid ahead of Barcelona showdown

Bernardo Silva highlights key challenge for Real Madrid ahead of Barcelona showdown Real Madrid put in another entertaining display as they returned to their favorite competition, the UEFA Champions League with their third League Phase game against RB Leipzig. Playing at the Santiago Bernabeu, the Merengues beat the visitors 4-1. Although whole of the team would be happy with the result, one player for whom this match was particularly special was the midfielder Bernardo Silva. The Portuguese international not only returned to the starting lineup, but also scored his first goal in a Real Madrid shirt. This was also the first time he played the entire 90 minutes for Jose Mourinho. As Mundo Deportivo has reported, Silva also talked to Real Madrid TV after the game. He highlighted how difficult it is to maintain a balance even with a squad as deep as Mourinho has: “We’re a team with players who are individually very aggressive in one-on-one situations. They like to dribble and run into space. We have to find the balance between keeping possession and moving forward, being direct. Finding that balance between controlling the game and not becoming a boring team, while remaining intense and aggressive, is difficult, and you have to be very well prepared.” While expressing his happiness with his goal, he also admitted the team was not at its best level during the first half: “I’m very happy to have won this match and scored my first goal in this shirt. It was a difficult game, and we were considerably better in the second half than in the first. We allowed them to create quite a few chances in the first half, and Thibaut was important.” The Portuguese midfielder was also happy with the way the team has been making improvements: “It’s good to feel that the team remains confident and continues to improve. I think we’re improving considerably. It’s still only the beginning of the season, and we have to keep winning, one match at a time, so that we can compete for trophies in the final three or four months of the season. That’s what this club demands of you.” After playing the full 90 minutes for the first time, Silva assured that he is ready to contribute in whatever way his team needs: “I just keep working. I’m ready to help this club for one, five, 10 or 90 minutes. Whenever the manager feels he needs me, I’ll be ready.” The midfielder was quite satisfied with the quality of the team: “For a team to function, you need more than two or three players. You need people who feel they can make a difference. We have that among the players who are playing more or less regularly. The spirit is good, and we keep working. We’re on the right track.” Going forward, the Portuguese veteran admitted that the match against Barcelona is going to be quite important: “It’s an important match, there’s no point denying that. We could be three points clear, we could be nine points clear, or it could be six. We have to approach it with a strong desire to do well because it’s still early in the season, but these are important points for us.” With this performance, Bernardo Silva has once again shown how important he can be for Real Madrid. Hopefully, he will continue to perform at this level whenever Mourinho needs him, and his presence will be able to help the Merengues get back to winning ways this season.